Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
Ann Rev Mar Sci. 2013;5:393-420. doi: 10.1146/annurev-marine-120710-100849. Epub 2012 Sep 17.
Long-term declines in oxygen concentrations are evident throughout much of the ocean interior and are particularly acute in midwater oxygen minimum zones (OMZs). These regions are defined by extremely low oxygen concentrations (<20-45 μmol kg(-1)), cover wide expanses of the ocean, and are associated with productive oceanic and coastal regions. OMZs have expanded over the past 50 years, and this expansion is predicted to continue as the climate warms worldwide. Shoaling of the upper boundaries of the OMZs accompanies OMZ expansion, and decreased oxygen at shallower depths can affect all marine organisms through multiple direct and indirect mechanisms. Effects include altered microbial processes that produce and consume key nutrients and gases, changes in predator-prey dynamics, and shifts in the abundance and accessibility of commercially fished species. Although many species will be negatively affected by these effects, others may expand their range or exploit new niches. OMZ shoaling is thus likely to have major and far-reaching consequences.
海洋内部大部分区域的氧气浓度长期下降，中层缺氧区（OMZ）的情况尤为严重。这些区域的氧气浓度极低（<20-45 μmol kg(-1)），分布范围广，与海洋和沿海地区的生产力密切相关。过去 50 年来，OMZ 不断扩大，随着全球气候变暖，这种扩张预计将继续。OMZ 扩张伴随着上边界的变浅，较浅深度的氧气减少会通过多种直接和间接机制影响所有海洋生物。这些影响包括改变产生和消耗关键营养物质和气体的微生物过程、改变捕食者-猎物动态以及商业捕捞物种的丰度和可及性的变化。尽管许多物种将受到这些影响的负面影响，但其他物种可能会扩大其范围或利用新的生态位。因此，OMZ 变浅很可能会产生重大而深远的影响。
